Halfup Braid Comparison

The photo from two posts ago shows what my halfup braid looked like almost one year ago.  It was not pretty to say the least.  Tonight I put my hair in the style to compare and was pleased to see an improvement.

A Couple of Front Shots

I'm looking forward to seeing what the next year will bring.  I'm adding a couple of photos showing the front and one more of the back.  I shampooed and conditioned today plus did a fairly heavy oiling with the Ojon.

Musings on the Road Ahead

Some may remember my big 7.5 inch cut last June. I was sick of lousy ends and wanted that blunt hemline. This was the result:

I made it my goal to get regular trims and to stay in a holding pattern for a while. I guess having a young child in the house along with many other activities can make one lose sight of such matters. I did get a couple of trims but I had to check on my blog to see that the last one was back in November. So, my hair has been pretty much ignored except for one notable difference: I've been using Ojon oil regularly after showering. I like it even better than coconut oil. The last few days I've refocused on my hair a bit and noticed that the ends seem better than they were last year, definitely not silky smooth and blunt like in the photo above but not terrible and possibly still a ways from terminal length.
It's gotten me thinking again: can I establish new length with reasonable ends? I dunno. I guess I'm looking to maybe give it one more shot before settling into that regular trim plan. I know I'm vacillating but hey, that's part of the fun - to enjoy the various twists and turns on our hair journeys. Mine has been going on long enough that there are fewer of them now.
I took these photos this evening to document where I'm at. There's been lots of length added from last June. I wonder what another year would bring with minimal trimming and continuing with Ojon oil....

Hair Update

I've been experimenting with Ojon oil. I really like it. I don't use it as often as coconut oil but it smells great and I like how it reacts to my hair.  These photos were taken after shampooing and then using NO conditioner but only Ojon oil applied to my damp hair. The one on the left is completely untouched hair. The one on the right is after I brushed it out:

 Another photo of my hair after brushing and the Ojon oil treatment:

 Front views:

 In other hair news, I've been trying braiding higher on my head partly just for variety but also to use during the hot weather as it keeps the hair away from my neck:

I should document a small trim I received back in November.  It was only of about a half inch:

On the workout front, I hurt my left knee cross-country skiing about 2 weeks ago.  I tried cycling once but it seemed to hurt if further.  I'm afraid I've gained some weight but I've continued with my strength workouts.

Workout Update

I continue to augment my cycling with strength training thrice per week.  I do mainly body weight exercises: full dips, partial dips, pullups, pushups and ab work.  I also use comparatively light weights to supplement this.  My weight fluctuates from 157-162 and I'd like to get that down closer to 153.

Sculpting Update

I'm still working on getting my body into the shape I'd like it to be in.  I continue to cycle about 500-550 miles per month.  I'm using mostly body-weight exercises for strength along with some light weights and trying to eat 85% paleo.

Day Two Hair

I had washed my hair yesterday afternoon before I took those pictures and I thought it made for some extra fuzziness.  So, I decided to take some more photos today and compare.  I think I like how my hair looks the day after a wash better.